Verses on Dhamma 10.9.p6

10.9.p6

Ito ekanavutikappe vipassīsammāsambuddhakāle ahaṃ bandhumatinagare ekasmiṃ kule nibbattitvā cintesiṃ – ‘‘kiṃ nu kho paresaṃ chedaṃ vā pīḷaṃ vā akaraṇakamma’’nti upadhārento dhammaghosakakammaṃ disvā tato paṭṭhāya taṃ kammaṃ karonto mahājanaṃ samādapetvā ‘‘puññāni karotha, uposathadivasesu uposathaṃ samādiyatha, dānaṃ detha, dhammaṃ suṇātha, buddharatanādīhi sadisaṃ aññaṃ nāma natthi, tiṇṇaṃ ratanānaṃ sakkāraṃ karothā’’ti ugghosento vicarāmi. Tassa mayhaṃ saddaṃ sutvā buddhapitā bandhumatimahārājā maṃ pakkosāpetvā, ‘‘tāta, kiṃ karonto vicarasī’’ti pucchitvā, ‘‘deva, tiṇṇaṃ ratanānaṃ guṇaṃ pakāsetvā mahājanaṃ puññakammesu samādapento vicarāmī’’ti vutte, ‘‘kattha nisinno vicarasī’’ti maṃ pucchitvā ‘‘padasāva, devā’’ti mayā vutte, ‘‘tāta, na tvaṃ evaṃ vicarituṃ arahasi, imaṃ pupphadāmaṃ pilandhitvā assapiṭṭhe nisinnova vicarā’’ti mayhaṃ muttādāmasadisaṃ pupphadāmaṃ datvā dantaṃ assaṃ adāsi. Atha maṃ raññā dinnaparihārena tatheva ugghosetvā vicarantaṃ puna rājā pakkosāpetvā, ‘‘tāta, kiṃ karonto vicarasī’’ti pucchitvā ‘‘tadeva, devā’’ti vutte, ‘‘tāta, assopi te nānucchaviko, idha nisīditvā vicarā’’ti catusindhavayuttarathaṃ adāsi. Tatiyavārepi me rājā saddaṃ sutvā pakkosāpetvā, ‘‘tāta, kiṃ karonto vicarasī’’ti pucchitvā ‘‘tadeva, devā’’ti vutte, ‘‘tāta, rathopi te nānucchaviko’’ti mayhaṃ mahantaṃ bhogakkhandhaṃ mahāpasādhanañca datvā ekañca hatthiṃ adāsi. Svāhaṃ sabbābharaṇapaṭimaṇḍito hatthikkhandhe nisinno asīti vassasahassāni dhammaghosakakammaṃ akāsiṃ, tassa me ettakaṃ kālaṃ kāyato candanagandho vāyati, mukhato uppalagandho vāyati. Idaṃ mayā katakammanti.

Ninety-one cycles of time ago, in the dispensation of the Buddha Vipassī, I was reborn in a certain household in a city named Bandhumatī. And the following thought occurred to me, “What labor will do away with the want and sufferings of others?” While I was pondering this thought, I observed the labors of those who went about proclaiming the Law, and from that time forth I labored at that very task. I incited others to perform works of merit, and I performed works of merit myself. On fast-days I took upon myself the obligations of fast-day; I gave alms; I listened to the Law. And I went about proclaiming, “There are no jewels comparable to the Three Jewels which are named the Buddha, the Law, and the Order; therefore do honor to the Three Jewels.”

Now the great King Bandhumatī, father of the Buddha, hearing my voice, sent for me and asked me, “Friend, on what business are you going about?” I replied, “Your majesty, I am going about proclaiming the virtues of the Three Jewels, and inciting the populace to perform works of merit.” “What vehicle do you use on your travels?” asked the king. I replied, “I travel about on my two legs, your majesty.” Thereupon the king said, “Friend, it is not fitting that you should go about in that fashion. Deck yourself with this string of flowers and seat yourself on the back of a horse and go about in this fashion.” So saying, he gave me a string of flowers similar in appearance to a string of pearls, and at the same time he gave me a horse.

After the king had done me this kindness, I went about as before proclaiming the Law. Thereupon the king summoned me again and asked me, “Friend, on what business are you going about?” “The same as before, your majesty,” I replied. “Friend,” said the king, “a horse is not good enough for you; sit herein as you go about.” So saying, he presented me with a chariot drawn by four Sindh horses. Again the third time the king heard my voice, whereupon he sent for me and asked me, “Friend, on what business are you going about?” “The same as before, your majesty,” I replied. “Friend,” said the king, “a chariot is not good enough for you.” And forthwith he presented me with great wealth and a splendid set of jewels, and at the same time he gave me an elephant. Accordingly I decked myself with all my jewels and seated myself on the back of the elephant, and in this manner for eighty thousand years I went about performing the meritorious work of proclaiming the Law. And during all that time there was diffused from my body the fragrance of sandal and from my mouth the fragrance of the lotus. This was my meritorious deed in a previous state of existence. End of Story of the Past.